ANIMAL SAGACITY.

Taranaki Herald, Volume XLI, Issue 9280, 5 January 1892, Page 4

ANIMAL SAGACITY.

, ■ - .) . Colonel Eioe, now of Gen. Miles's Fifth , United States; Infantry, was in company rer cently with a gentleman of our acquaintance,' and the oopversation naturally turned on Indian frontier experiences, the day being the anniversary of the Custer massacre." Col. Dice, who naa seen "service in Indian campaigns, related a striking aneodote ooncerning the sagacity of a horse which lost his rider in the fatal fight. '< gome months after the battle a steamer having on board a portion of the Fifth ;Infantry was pursuing her voyage near the mouth of the Powder Eiver, on the Yellowstone. The men on the look-out, onej of whom was the 'famous BCo'ut, Buffalo B,iN» who scouring the surrounding country forindioations of hostile Indians, saw in the distance an object moving slowly toward the boat. They anxiously scrutinized it, as it continued to approach, supposing that' it might be tho advance of a body of hostiles. Their suspicions were not lessened when they discovered it to be a horse, which might be that of tvscout watching their movements or signalling the advance of the enemy in force. When the animal came to the bank of the river, however, it was seen to be unmounted and alone, and on approaching the boat it neighed and pranced, manifesting every sign of ita joyful recognition.. Tho boat was stopped, and when the horse was taken on board it was found to bear the brand, • " Seventh Cavalry." The place where it was found was seventy or eighty miles in a, bee line frotn the scene of the Custer fight. The animal had evidently seen or heard the boat in the distance, and recognised it as a sign of civilization, and, being tired of its free life in the wilderness, gladly embraced the opportunity of returning to its accustomed duties.